Waste Management and Recycling
Penn recycles about 20% of its total waste stream, diverting over 1500 tons of material from landfills. Facilities and Real Estate Services is responsible for the collection of municipal waste and recyclables at Penn. The University also collects and recycles computers, printers, batteries, and fluorescent light bulbs. Our services and programs help the individual reduce their waste stream, reuse products to extend their life cycle, and recycle products at the end of their life cycle.
The University composts all leaves to be re-used on the campus landscape. In addition, Penn’s Morris Arboretum provides composting facilities for the entire neighboring municipality of Springfield Township, allowing both garden waste drop-off and free compost.
Penn competed in the EPA’s RecycleMania competition for the first time in 2008. The competition raised awareness of Penn’s recycling programs and goals across the campus. Penn competed in RecycleMania again in 2009 and showed improvements in both diversion rate and overall waste reduction.
What can be recycled on campus?
Mixed Paper
Mixed paper is the term used for all types and grades of paper. Paper and cardboard are collected together from all buildings on campus.
Most copy paper generated in a typical office and school setting can be recycled. A general rule of thumb, "if you can rip it, you can recycle it" holds true with a few exceptions. Any paper that has come in contact with food cannot be recycled. Office paper can be recycled in any 'mixed paper' bin located in hallways, offices, College Houses, computing centers and building lobbies across the campus.
Paper
Office Paper Junk Mail
Bulk Packs Glossy Paper
Magazines Newspapers
Notebooks Catalogs
Paperbacks Phone Books
NO hardcover books or wax paper
Hardcover books can be donated to your local library. Many bookstores (including the Penn Bookstore @ 36th and Walnut) offer buy-back opportunities for used textbooks.
Cardboard
Empty & Flatten
Cardboard boxes
Clean pizza boxes
Brown paper bags
Fiber board (ex: cereal boxes)
NO wax-coated cardboard
Did you know?The capacity of a recycling dumpster increases 8-10 times when boxes are broken down. Corrugated cardboard boxes and pizza boxes must be emptied and flattened for recycling. |
In Academic/Administrative buildings, put flattened cardboard boxes next to any recycling bin in the building. (This indicates to the housekeeping staff that the box is meant to be recycled.)
In College Houses, place flattened boxes in their designated location.
Glass, Plastics #1 & #2, and Metals
Glass, plastic containers labeled with a #1 or #2, and metals are recyclable materials that are collected together, or "commingled," in College Houses, academic/administrative buildings, and outdoor locations across campus.
All materials must be emptied and rinsed. Metal caps and lids should be detached from jars and placed in the same bin. Rinse and flatten plastic containers, and discard plastic bottle caps in the trash.
GLASS
Glass Food & Beverage Containers:
Flint (clear) Emerald (green)
Amber (brown) Blue
NO window glass
NO light bulbs
PLASTICS #1 & #2
To determine the number of the plastic container, look on the bottom for one of these symbols:
Examples of plastic containers labeled #1 & #2:
Plastic soda and water bottles
Shampoo and detergent bottles
Milk jugs and salad dressing bottles
NO #3, #4, #5, #6 or #7 plastic
NO plastic bags or food wrappers
NO plastic bottle caps
NO plastic Solo cups (unless labeled #1 or #2 – most are #6)
METALS
Aluminum cans
Empty aerosol cans
Steel & ferrous cans (canned goods, coffee cans, etc.)
NO batteries or electronics
NO aluminum foil
Did you know?Most plastics are turned into new items such as plastic pots, polyester for carpets and jacket fillings, and outdoor furniture. |
Special Items (Universal Waste and E-Waste)
For information on how to recycle computer, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and other electronic equipment, please visit the Waste and Recycling section of the Green Campus Partnership website.
Trash
The following items are not recyclable, and should be placed in the trash.
UNLABELED PLASTICS AND PLASTICS #3, #4, #5, #6 & #7
Plastics #3 through #7 and plastics without a number go in the TRASH:
Plastic containers #3 - #7
Plastic containers with no #
Styrofoam, packing peanuts
Plastic bags and film
Plastic utensils, cups, plates
Plastic food wrapping
Poly-carbonate bottles
Tupperware containers
Hardcover books and binders
FOOD WASTE
Frozen food and juice boxes
Milk and ice cream cartons
Orange juice cartons
Food wrappers and bags
Dirty paper plates, cups, napkins
Food waste (uneaten food)
Where to recycle
Office and Education Buildings
Each office and educational building handles its waste and recycling differently. Please look for designated bins and recycling areas in your building.
College Houses
Please use the recycling containers located at or in your college house or Sansom Place:
- W.E.B. DuBois College House
- Gregory College House: Van Pelt and Class of 1925
- Rodin College House
- Harnwell College House
- Harrison College House
- Hill College House
- King's Court / English College House
- Sansom Place East
- Sansom Place West
- Stouffer College House: Mayer Hall and Stouffer Building
- Fisher-Hassenfeld College House
- Reipe College House
- Ware College House
Outdoor receptacles and triplets
There are a number of outdoor locations for recycling. Click here for a map of the locations of outdoor recycling and waste bins on Penn’s campus.
Did you know?Penn also recently installed ten BigBelly solar-powered compacting trash cans with recycling bins along Walnut and Spruce Streets to increase your public recycling options. These cans compact trash so that the container stores up to four times the capacity of a regular trash can! |
What else can you do to increase your recycling and reduce your waste?
You can do a lot!
- Drink from reusable coffee mugs or water bottles
- Print only when necessary, using the double sided option
- Shop with reusable bags
- Eat and store food with reusable containers, plates, silverware, etc.
- Purchase items with minimal packaging
- Check products for percentage of Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) before you purchase, especially paper products (i.e. printer paper)
- Inquire about programs to donate used printer cartridges (i.e. local schools)
- Support suppliers with a sustainability program.
Help inform your peers about proper recycling practices. Approved Penn Waste and Recycling Posters are available for download on the Green Campus Partnership website.
For more information about waste and recycling practices, please contact: sustainability@upenn.edu.
